Tristan Thompson Quotes

I know I can block shots and I've got to do it. That's part of my job as a big.

With all the talk of the 3-point line, it's still most important to build your defense inside to out.

I just try to make the right play, stay aggressive and defensively just do what I do. I make sure I talk to everyone and control the paint.

I like playing size per position defensively.

I always root for the defense.

If we don't start playing better on defense, it's going to be hard. We can't just sit there and win shootouts.

I probably visualize myself, the shots I'm going to get in the game, how I'm going to play defense, what we have to do to stop the other team's best player, what it's going to take out of me, the whole aspect of the game.

This year I've just been aggressive. I still have that mindset of passing the ball, and being aggressive and attacking to the basket is going to draw more attention, and that way I can find my teammates. Being in attack mode is something I try to bring into every single game, and that's what's making me be so successful.

My mental approach is totally different. My coach predicated everything on defense. He always talked about defense, defense, defense. I took it to heart that if you play defense, you can take the heart from an offensive player.

There's two sides to the game, and you have to do the ugly side as well. If you're getting beat, and you're conceding the goals that we're getting beaten by, then it's because you're not defending and shutting people down well enough.

I look at like this: Any player I guard, long twos or shots like that, if they make them I still think that's good defense. You can't make those shots at a high percentage the whole game. It's just hard to make long two-pointers, step-backs, fadeaways, off-the-dribble crossovers.

I like to have an attacking style on both ends.

My first mind-set when I am out on the field is to defend well and not concede.

Most teams won't really focus on one player because they've got multiple players to defend and that will open up a lot of things for me.

I feel like I need to find ways to disrupt the other team and apply that pressure they might not be used to. I think being able to set that tone is something I'm priding myself on.

I still have a lot of confidence in my offensive game. I try to get guys involved and get in the lane, but defense is my backbone.

I like to get physical on defense. I like to get up on a guy as much as possible. I actually need to calm down, though.

I don't really want to be cocky when I say this, but I really feel I can be one of the best rim protectors in the league, you know, as a rookie.

When you've got guys touching the ball on the offensive end, they're really into the defensive end.

Blocking a shot can really demoralize a person and defer them from coming to the rim the rest of the game. So being able to do that and change the landscape of the game by one play is pretty amazing.

Whoever I'm playing against, I go in and try to stop their best scorer and try to get myself going on the offensive end.

My shot-blocking ability, it's really second to none.

Any guard would love playing with a great big man, one who rebounds, blocks shots, and scores.

I feel the need to really get after a guy defensively and showing that.

The confidence level that Steph is playing with now, obviously, you won't totally stop him. If I'm playing against him right now, I think I'd try to pick him up full court, get the ball out of his hands, try to be a little physical.